So this week I just had to talk about Strictly....as Jessica, my daughter, said when she got up on Monday morning “I am still in shock Mommy”.I thought that Pixie was going to win the whole series and I think most people were of that opinion as well. Was she my favourite though? Actually not, I do think she was a great dancer but I actually prefer the ones who maybe aren’t brilliant but you see them improve over the weeks. I also always enjoy the ones who cant dance at all but give you great entertainment value.My favourites right from the beginning have been Mark and Jake and they are both through to the semi finals so others must like them as well!It just shows that sometimes you may not be great at something from the beginning but with practice and perseverance you can become good and I love that message.Isn’t Strictly just the best Saturday night family viewing though, I love sitting down with Jessica and watching the show, deciding who we think will be in the dance off etc.I love music and dance so Strictly obviously ticks loads of boxes for me. I keep entering the draw each year to win free tickets to go along to the recording, I haven’t won yet but heres hoping!!

So this week there was a piece in The Telegraph (link below) that was very interesting.Evidence is now pointing towards calorie counting being flawed when it comes to dieting, they are saying that low calorie foods like white rice and potatoes are actually playing a big part in the rise in obesity. They talk about how a calories worth of salmon (protein) will affect body weight compared to a calories worth of white rice (refined carbohydrate).I have long held this belief as how can a McDonalds be compared to a healthy balanced meal if it actually contains the same calories. That McDonalds is going to affect your body in a completely different way right? I know back in the days when I used to eat the occasional McDonalds I would feel lethargic and actually unwell afterwards, completely different to how I feel after eating a healthy clean meal even if it did contain the same calories (I have an intense dislike towards McDonalds food which I may cover another week!!!).The article talks about this way of thinking about food shaking up the diet industry and I think it will. Over the years I myself have done various diets, I think I have probably done them all!!! I remember counting out the calories and thinking "oh I can have that bag of crisps or that chocolate because it fits into my points/calories for the day" and I wasn't really thinking about the ingredients in the food at all. In fact I remember one points based diet back in the day where I had worked it out so that I could eat a Curly Wurly every day (remember my sugar addiction that I talked about!!!) When you stop counting calories and just eat proper food that hasn't been processed and has real ingredients in, you feel a release from that constant totting up in your head of the calories as well. Who wants to be doing a mental maths lesson every time they eat something anyway?Have a read of the article and feel free to let me know your thoughts, are you a calorie totter up or do you just forget the calories and enjoy proper food????http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/active/mens-health/11249611/The-big-fat-calorie-counting-con.html

It's December yay!!!! I absolutely love this time of the year and it is extra special this year as it is Jude's first Christmas. I am aware though how easy it is to lose our diet and fitness goals in December so have a read of my Top Tips to beat the Festive Bloat below!!! Also remember that we still have 3 weeks of classes to enjoy before Christmas so make that extra effort to get to class to make up for all the extra treats we all want to enjoy at this time of the year!!! You will also find details below on a SPECIAL OFFER I have for my online downloads which are perfect to do at home over Christmas!

Christmas Holidays

I will be finishing up for Christmas on Thursday 18th December with our special festive class, see details below. All are welcome to come along the more the merrier!!!Classes will then restart on Thursday 8th January.Wednesday Evening Zumba

I have decided to remove this class from the timetable for now, this will be reviewed in the new year, I am sorry for any inconvenience caused.

Fitness at Home

I have various downloads available to purchase on my website which are recorded by me in my own home, I have HIIT, Lite HIIT and Fitness Pilates, they are priced between £1.99 and £2.99 each, or you can purchase all 10 for a bargain £9.99 saving you over £13!!! Click here to set your fitness up for the Christmas period http://www.keepfitwithkelly.com/kelfit-online-fitness.html

Top Tips to Avoid the Festive Bloat1. Eat a protein rich breakfast every morning to fill yourself up....smoked salmon and scrambled eggs on xmas day is perfect!!!2. Make sure you drink a minimum of 2 litres of water a day3. Before going to a party have a healthy protein rich snack so that you avoid the beige food on the buffet table.4. Aim to exercise every day, whether thats a 10 minute HIIT workout or a walk in the park get moving each day.5. When drinking alcohol go for the lower calorie options, a spirit such as gin or vodka with slimline tonic is a great option6. Aim to mix up the alcoholic drinks with water...for every drink make sure you have a glass of water as well7. If you have mince pies in the cupboards for the kids pop them in the freezer and just defrost them as they want them......when you have to defrost one before you can enjoy it you will think twice!!8. When eating out try to avoid the bread basket and the desserts, stick to just your main course

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